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TSUNAMI 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope
December 26th, 2014 marked the anniversary of the monster waves seen around the world. Is life restored back to normal on the shores of Nagapattinam, South India? Will it ever be?
"We'll go to the most devastated, remote villages where no one else has gone," Bishop Leo Michael promised a Northwest Arkansas newspaper reporter.
Like a sweeping wave, news of the tsunami fundraiser spread to a national level. Bishop Leo Michael became the ideal vehicle to collect, then ferry aid across the sea. He had lived and worked in the now tsunami devastated region for many years, spoke the native language, and had a counseling degree.
TEN days later, trekking into impassable villages and decimated shorelines, the Michaels helped the widows and the orphans and those most affected by the tsunami.
TEN years later, the Michaels returned to the same villages and encountered surprising changes and a life-threatening situation.
"We'll go to the most devastated, remote villages where no one else has gone," Bishop Leo Michael promised a Northwest Arkansas newspaper reporter.
Like a sweeping wave, news of the tsunami fundraiser spread to a national level. Bishop Leo Michael became the ideal vehicle to collect, then ferry aid across the sea. He had lived and worked in the now tsunami devastated region for many years, spoke the native language, and had a counseling degree.
TEN days later, trekking into impassable villages and decimated shorelines, the Michaels helped the widows and the orphans and those most affected by the tsunami.
TEN years later, the Michaels returned to the same villages and encountered surprising changes and a life-threatening situation.
- GenresNonfiction
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2014
6 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Holly Michael
4 books52 followersAward Winning Author Holly Michael-published in various magazines, newspapers, and in Guideposts books-released her debut novel, Crooked Lines in 2014. She lives in Missouri and has three adult children--daughter Betsy, and two sons who play football—Jake (NFL) and Nick (Rajin’ Cajuns).
Visit Holly at www.HollyMichael.com
Sign up for my newsletter, please: http://eepurl.com/5vTLP
Coming Soon
Tsunami 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope (NOW RELEASED)
Crossed Lines: Sequel to Crooked Lines, Spring 2015
I’ll Be Seeing You: In Wyoming’s Wind River Valley, Charlie Willow faces a future more unsettling than the one he imagined upon realizing he was dead. The plan, written into his will, ought to fix his children, but an angel asks for a little more help.
Crooked Lines was a 2012 ABNA semifinalist and I’ll Be Seeing You was an ACFW Genesis 2014 semi-finalist.
First and Goal: Holly Michael and her son, Jake Byrne, an NFL player with type one diabetes have a a devotional contracted with Harvest House, releasing fall of 2015.
Visit Holly at www.HollyMichael.com
Sign up for my newsletter, please: http://eepurl.com/5vTLP
Coming Soon
Tsunami 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope (NOW RELEASED)
Crossed Lines: Sequel to Crooked Lines, Spring 2015
I’ll Be Seeing You: In Wyoming’s Wind River Valley, Charlie Willow faces a future more unsettling than the one he imagined upon realizing he was dead. The plan, written into his will, ought to fix his children, but an angel asks for a little more help.
Crooked Lines was a 2012 ABNA semifinalist and I’ll Be Seeing You was an ACFW Genesis 2014 semi-finalist.
First and Goal: Holly Michael and her son, Jake Byrne, an NFL player with type one diabetes have a a devotional contracted with Harvest House, releasing fall of 2015.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 26, 2015
Wow! What an amazing story!
I met Holly Michael at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference September 2014, where she presented me with an autographed copy of Crooked Lines.
After reading just a few pages, I knew I wanted to feature her on my book blog. But I had no idea at the time that when Holly and her husband, Bishop Leo Michael, would travel to India in 2014, that he would fall ill with dengue fever while there. Thankfully, Bishop Leo has recovered.
In Tsunami 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope, Holly shares how she and her husband helped the victims of the tsunami.
“Send us to the most devastated, remote villages where no one else has gone.”
This is the request made by Father Leo Michael in January 2005, just after the tsunami destroyed many villages of South India.
So many children lost family members and their homes. A few chose to end their lives, but thankfully many of them received enough help to grow up and get an education. Some have spouses and children now.
I learned many things about the differences between the way we live and those in India. I have great respect for Bishop Leo and Holly (as well as Vicky, one of their parishioners who traveled with them to India 10 years ago).
I think it’s wonderful that they went back 10 years later to visit the villages and people they met previously.
I met Holly Michael at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference September 2014, where she presented me with an autographed copy of Crooked Lines.
After reading just a few pages, I knew I wanted to feature her on my book blog. But I had no idea at the time that when Holly and her husband, Bishop Leo Michael, would travel to India in 2014, that he would fall ill with dengue fever while there. Thankfully, Bishop Leo has recovered.
In Tsunami 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope, Holly shares how she and her husband helped the victims of the tsunami.
“Send us to the most devastated, remote villages where no one else has gone.”
This is the request made by Father Leo Michael in January 2005, just after the tsunami destroyed many villages of South India.
So many children lost family members and their homes. A few chose to end their lives, but thankfully many of them received enough help to grow up and get an education. Some have spouses and children now.
I learned many things about the differences between the way we live and those in India. I have great respect for Bishop Leo and Holly (as well as Vicky, one of their parishioners who traveled with them to India 10 years ago).
I think it’s wonderful that they went back 10 years later to visit the villages and people they met previously.
January 20, 2015
This powerful book is the true story of the author's visit to India after the 2004 Tsunami. Through her poignant description, you will see, touch, and hear the plight of the survivors and also get a devastatingly close-up view of poverty. The part of the story that touched me the most was when she described the young girls. Married off based on their dowry value, the young women are disrespected and abused at every turn by their new inlaws. Women's rights is not even a concept. If the world of extreme poverty stuck at the bottom of a caste system is hard for men, it's even ever so much worse for women.
This is a page-turning read that will open your eyes to the plight of people a world away who are all too easy for us to forget.
This is a page-turning read that will open your eyes to the plight of people a world away who are all too easy for us to forget.
January 7, 2015
A very touching story that will stay with me even after I have finished it. It tells the beautiful story of the author and her husband and others going and offering physical and spiritual aid to those affected by the tsunami. The book paints pictures that make what happened more than just another news story. It was also wonderful to follow them on their return trip in 2014.
November 15, 2019
It was an incredible insight into what many of us cannot even imagine happening to us. I was quite small when this Tsunami hit but I have visited Phi Phi Island in Thailand, which were completely devastated. The tragedy that has struck such an undeveloped region must have an impact up to today. It was also interesting to hear how help in form of money can actually harm the people we are trying to help, which is a takeaway for anyone who wishes to help. What I did not enjoy about this book was a rather long chapter on her husband's illness, which I did not find appropriate in this book, and I did not see how it relates to their experience with Tsunami itself.
February 1, 2015
This feels very much like the sequel to Crooked Lines, but is very much a work of non-fiction. This touching read answered some questions that I had regarding the true affects of the Tsunami and it's aftermath. Like Holly mentions, you don't know how much aid actually makes it on the ground unless it is done yourself. This is a VERY eye-opening read and I was sad at some of these outcomes, while very happy for others. This book provides a little known glimpse into the Tsunami ravaged region - then and now. It was released on the anniversary of the Tsunami, which was very poignant, but many of us let the day slip by without remembering this tragic event.
Tsunami 2004 chronicles Bishop Leo and Holly's efforts in 2004 and their trip in 2014. The ups and downs, the happy moments and the sad moments, and the sudden turn the trip took.
Thank you Holly for telling your and Bishop Leo's story. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of these wonderful people and their struggles and triumphs.
I don't have much experience reviewing non-fiction, but couldn't wait to read this book. Holly writes beautifully and their story is told so well. I look forward to many more good reads from Holly.
*I recieved a copy of Tsunami 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope from Holly Michael for review purposes as part of the Christian EVALUators group. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Tsunami 2004 chronicles Bishop Leo and Holly's efforts in 2004 and their trip in 2014. The ups and downs, the happy moments and the sad moments, and the sudden turn the trip took.
Thank you Holly for telling your and Bishop Leo's story. Thank you for giving us a glimpse of these wonderful people and their struggles and triumphs.
I don't have much experience reviewing non-fiction, but couldn't wait to read this book. Holly writes beautifully and their story is told so well. I look forward to many more good reads from Holly.
*I recieved a copy of Tsunami 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope from Holly Michael for review purposes as part of the Christian EVALUators group. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions are my own.
January 2, 2015
In Tsunami 2004: Still Wading Through Waves of Hope, Holly Michael shares her story how she and her husband help victims of the devastating Tsunami. I found myself in many different emotions. At times I was smiling and even laughing and saddened and brought to tears at others. I love how the Michaels went to help the victims right after the Tsunami hit. They spread love, hope, and faith to those affected. They are so admireable. I really love it that they went back 10 years later and were able to catch up with the ones they had helped. A great book! Five stars
January 14, 2016
Jenny's review
Father Michael and his wife Holly do amazing work for the people of India after they suffered major devastation from a tsunami. Your heart just aches for the people there and the injustice that the women and children suffer with. The system there is so broken and there's only a handful that seem to want to care or help.
If you go to India ; you need a lot of toilet paper, bug spray and you never want to go to the hospital . Always have someone knowledgable of the area and that they have a good relationship with the people.
Father Michael and his wife Holly do amazing work for the people of India after they suffered major devastation from a tsunami. Your heart just aches for the people there and the injustice that the women and children suffer with. The system there is so broken and there's only a handful that seem to want to care or help.
If you go to India ; you need a lot of toilet paper, bug spray and you never want to go to the hospital . Always have someone knowledgable of the area and that they have a good relationship with the people.
June 23, 2016
Although I found parts of the book interesting, it just did not go into enough detail and there was too little information. It was more like reading a documentary than a book. The book alternated between 2005 right after the Tsunami 2004 and 2014 when Holly Michael and her husband Leo Michael, an Anglican priest made a return trip. However, there was no information about what had happened to the Michaels during that time. I did learn a lot about certain aspects of the culture of India, especially in respect to women through this book and how underdeveloped the country of India remains.
February 15, 2015
This book is the true story of the author's visit to India after the 2004 Tsunami. Through her descriptions, you will read the plight of the survivors and of their poverty. The young girls are married according to their dowry value. The young women are abused and disrespected at every turn. It is hard for men and much worse for women. This gives more than the newscasters gave. I was given this book for an honest review.
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February 25, 2016kindle 137
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews